GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – People from all over gathered at Neville Public Museum on Friday to take part in a special 200th birthday bash for Brown County.
Even a legend from the past that has an especially important role in Brown County history was on-hand.
Jacob Brown, the counties namesake, was present telling stories from his life as an early-19th century American officer and even performed a couple of songs.
Two local breweries, Titletown Brewing Company and Copper State Brewing, collaborated together to create a unique ale for the occasion, which was appropriately named the “BiCentenniAle.”
This was a creation specifically for 200 years of Brown County and appropriately it was made with ingredients within the state.
“We decided we wanted to get as many local ingredients as we could,” explains Titletown Brewing Company Brewmaster David Oldenburg. “All the malted barley is grown in Wisconsin, we have some wheat in it, as well, that’s grown in Wisconsin.”
The Belgian-style farmhouse ale will be available at both breweries for a limited time.
According to Oldenburg, you don’t have to be a beer snob to enjoy this brew.
“We wanted it to be something that was interesting and unique, but also accessible to people where it wasn’t going to turn people off by being too funky,” he says. “I think we nailed that.”
The planning for this celebration started a year ago and a key focus was on making this a true event to celebrate Brown County from border-to-border.
“We formed a community committee of different stakeholders representing different areas of the county,” explains Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt. “We had a representative from Denmark and a representative from Pulaski.”
Other events include performances by the Oneida Smoke Dancers, the Navah Mirage, the Nia Africa-African American Dance, Kaleidoscope Dance Studio, and Tonantzin Dance Company.
The days activities are being wrapped up by a laser light show by Future Weapons.
The 200-year celebration doesn’t stop on Friday, though.
“This just happens to be [Friday], one of the crown jewel events,” says Flynt.
Another component to the Brown County 2018 bicentennial celebration will be happening next Thursday. It’s the Honor Flight of Champions, which is the first-ever Honor Flight taking place at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.
More information on the Brown County 200-year celebration can be found here.
